The Verge

This book was incredibly disappointing. It's a lot of Wyman stating “things were like this in Europe and this made Europe special.” And what were things like elsewhere? As Wyman points out in the introduction, China and India, for example, were more advanced than Europe before the Divergence; so why didn't they develop these institutions? Wyman's exclusive focus on Europe makes his argument very unconvincing. Decently interesting points about European history, but if I could go back in time to advise myself not to read this book, I would.